Chapter 394: Battle Training
First order of business made me actually uncomfortable and kind of anxious at the same time. Sassafras led me into my ginormous closet and proceeded to choose an outfit for me, something he deemed suitable for whatever he had in mind. Not that I was normally shy around him, but having my demon cat pick my wardrobe was more than a little weird and kind of creepy.
"Oh stop it," he snapped as I hid a nervous giggle behind my hand as his magic pulled down a large wrap-like coat and dropped it at my feet. "Grow up, would you, please?"
Done with me, he waddled out to badger my sister, leaving me to dress in the floor-length flowing pant things and short, tight top baring my midriff, more of the stupid platform boots and the lightweight wrap he'd chosen. All blue this time. I felt like I'd had a very bad accident with a magic marker.
But worse than the clothes? Imagine my shock when Sassafras led Meira and I out of our quarters and to the elevator.
"Aren't we supposed to be training?" I clenched my jaw against the rising vista below us as the platform dropped about fifty feet before coming to a halt again. I didn't think I'd ever get used to it.
"Just trust me, for once in your life." He sounded so snippy I let it go, knowing his concern for us was testing his temper as much as mine.
We emerged not into a hall or a large chamber, but overlooking what seemed to be some kind of arena. Bleacher seats, though far more grandiose and comfortable than any stadium I'd ever seen, rose above a large stone opening where a number of demons seemed to be doing battle.
"Training ground," Sassafras said, eyes locked on the scene below as we walked down the wide stairs to the bottom. There was a wistful quality to him suddenly that made me want to stroke his fur and comfort him. After all, hadn't he himself spent years-decades as far as I knew-in this very arena training to fight for status?
"I still think it would be easier to just train in our quarters." I felt the hum of magic as we finally touched down on the arena floor and understood why we were here even as Sassafras's snippy voice filled me in.
"Unless you're prepared to expend enough energy to shield your rooms," he said at his most haughty, "you'll use the training ground like everyone else."
He didn't have to be such a jerk about it.
Besides, he sent in a tightly closed thread, this way you are able to witness some of your competition in action. How many times do I have to tell you to pay attention?
I was seriously going to throttle his ass. Once we were home, safe and sound.
Right now, it seemed, I needed him.
More than a little sour over the whole thing, I followed Sass and Meira to the center of the open area. When he stopped in the middle and turned to face us, I hesitated. Every eye was locked on us, the rest of the combatants lining the walls of the round arena.
Way to make us stand out like sore thumbs, Sass. I didn't need the extra pressure. They'd be watching anyway, but it would have been nice to have a wall at my back just in case. What was he thinking?
You're going to stand out no matter what we do, he sent. Might as well make yourselves easy to observe.
Easy targets you mean. I shifted nervously, trying to watch all of the other demons at once.
Don't be ridiculous, he sent. The arena is off limits to status matches. Training only. Anyone who breaks the rule is stripped and tossed out of the city. The law has stood for generations. Now focus.
Sassafras had always been a bossy-pants, but his new attitude was really rankling. I knew he was worried, that he just wanted to help. And was likely the only one who could help. But I'd survived two fights already and didn't think being talked to like a baby was warranted.
Like Sassafras gave a crap what I thought.
Typical.
I thought fighting was hard work. What Sass put us through in the next several hours left me even more wrung out than trying to keep from telling my grandmother what she wanted to know. With his power snapping like a whip, Sass put Meira and me through our paces as if we were prized thoroughbreds who hadn't been working at potential.
From shielding to slashing to mustering fire, shredding and the slippery nature of my previous evening's attacker, I struggled to keep up. Meira, on the other hand, took to his teaching like she was only remembering things she'd forgotten, often laughing when the magic she needed slid easily into place.
You're fighting your demon, Sass snapped at last. You're accustomed to being in the driver's seat. Let her take the pressure, do the work. You guide her.
My demon rumbled her approval so I gave it a go. Turned out he was right.
Again.
Ack.
I looked up from recoiling a whip of my own made from pure magic, drawing it back slowly rather than allowing it to dissipate, the pressure of holding it intact taking all of my attention. But the moment Sass let me release it at last, I realized we weren't alone.
Not that the two watching us had intruded in any way. But they stood close enough, arms crossed, bodies tilted toward each other while they smirked in our direction, they might as well have.
Cousins, Sassafras sent quickly.
The way the rest of the combatants didn't look our way made me think the guy/girl pair probably possessed impressive status themselves. They looked about my age, him tall and broad, typical demon physique with bulging biceps and a wide jaw. She was almost as tall as he was but slender, though her muscles rippled under her thin clothing. They looked enough alike I figured they had to be fairly closely related.
"Nicely done, cousin." The girl's voice cut with an edge though her words said otherwise. "I've never seen a fire whip used quite like that."
Her companion, probably her brother, snickered.
"Tanasharia." Sassy's tone was flat and bored. "You haven't grown. What a surprise."
She snarled at him immediately. "I wasn't speaking to you, damned one." Tanasharia tossed her head, long black hair whipping around her like a weapon. Her eyes locked on mine again. "I was thinking we could have a friendly spar. Flex our power."
"No." Sassafras stepped in front of me, his small cat body no match for her physically, but the pressure of his power shoving her back a step. "You know the rules, Duchess."
She didn't argue or even look at him, just shrugged. "If you change your mind," she said, "I'd be happy to show you how things work around here."
The pair turned and wandered off, the other demons in the arena bowing and acting all reverential.
"Okay," I said, "who were the douchebags?"
Sassy sighed. "Tanasharia, Duchess of the Third Plane and Cypherion, her brother, Prince of the Second Plane." He looked up into my eyes, his guarded and flashing fire. "Yes," he said, "the Cypherion your father mentioned, heir to the Second Seat."
Vandelarius's kids. Nice.
"Don't underestimate them," Sassy said. "They may not have changed since I fought them, they may still be arrogant and think more highly of themselves than they should, but they are powerful and known to cheat if they think they can get away with it."
"Which they can," I said, "because of who they are."
Sassy's cat-shrug made his fur ripple. "Don't get me wrong," he said. "Cheating, no matter who you are, will get you in serious trouble." He paused and I wondered if he was thinking about himself. "But a certain amount of... creative fighting goes on, and as long as you don't cross certain lines, no one will turn you in."
"Such as?" I needed all the help I could get.
"Forget it." Sassy's snarl told me I'd crossed one of his lines. "Focus on skills. Then when you're even remotely close enough to getting it right, we'll talk about it." He snorted. "My luck you'd overdo it on the first go and end up powerless and an outcast."
"Should we worry about those two coming after us?" Meira looked like she wanted to take them both on with her bare hands, right here, right now. Made me feel much better about her chances.
"No," he said. "Not yet. They're probably waiting to see what you'll do, sizing you up. I've fought them both, defeated them both. Mind you, that was a long time ago. But neither feels all that much more powerful than they used to." He swiped one paw over his whiskers. "Would be just like those two to run on their reputations and lose their fighting skills."
Well, that could be helpful.
"The worst part is they've always been your grandmother's favorites." Sass let his paw drop. "And they will see the two of you as a threat to their position."
"So who do you think will come at us next?" I'd fought a knight and a lady so far, Tenth and Eighth planes. I winced inwardly as I realized how far I still had to go to reach my dear, dear cousins.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I've been out of the game for too long. But you'll mainly face the family, so at least I can find out. Tanasharia and Cypherion confirmed that much for me at least."
He stood up and flicked his tail at me. "You two keep practicing," he said. "Don't leave until I come back for you."
Sass scampered off, but I reached for him before he leaped to the top step. Where are you going? Way to abandon us to the wolves.
To do some research, he sent before he vanished through the exit with a flick of silver fur.
***
